Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-16
NORFOLK NEWS.
Ex,Midshipnan GateuOOd Takes
HIS Own Lffe-A Marine Breaks
His Neek-Nayy.YardN Notes.


fCorrespondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.l
NORFOLK, April Is, 1887.
This morning Just after the Bay Line
steamer from Baltimore left Old Point
ex-Midshipnan, Robert Gatewood, OF
this city, committed snicide in his state
room by shooting himself through the
head with a thirty-two calibre pistol,
He died quickly, the ball entering Just
above the right ear and coming out the
left side of the head nearly opposite.
The pistol.shot was heard all over the
saloon, and the officers of the steamer
at once broke open the state-room door
and found young Gatewood dead ON the
floor, with blood trickling from the
wounds IN his head.
On reaching this city DIR. +. V. New
ton, the city coroner, was notified, and
at once held an inquest on the body.
The verdict Of the jury was that the de
ceased came to his death by pistol
shot from his own hand. Mental aber-
ration is assigned as the cause OF the
rash act. A letter WAS found in the
state room written by the deceasedto his
father. Rev. Robert Gatewood, of this
city, stating that he was disappointed
and tired of life, and had determined to
commit suicide, and asking to be for
given by his parents.
The body was delivered to the family
az soon as possible.
Young Gatewood was the third son OF
Rev. Robert Gatewood, an Episcopal
clergyman and school-teacher OF this
city. He was a remarkably brilliant
yeung man, and distinguished himself
at the Naval Academy for his learning,
graduating at the head of all his classes.
He resigned from the navy because OF
the slow prospect of promotion and
usefulness In the service, and was study
ing the advanced sciences at Che Johns
HOPKINS University, in Baltimore. At
the same time he held some sort OF
clerical position in Washington. The
deceased was about twenty-five years of
age, and his sad death has created a
great shock among his friends.
This morning the city coroner, DIR.
Newton, held an inquest at the city
iail ON the body of Carl Switzer, OF the
United States marine barracks at the
navy-yard, who was picked up by the
police at an early hour this morning on
tyity- Hall avenue with his neck broken.
A negro woman named Maggie Nun
den was arrested with the coat OF the
marine buttoned on her body, and it
was at first supposed that she murder
ed him. She was very drunk, and 1t
was ascertained that she and the ma
rine had been i'll company drinking
heavily together. The jury were una
BILE to determine conclusiyely, but,
after hearing the evidence, it is very
generally believed that the marine fell
and broke his neck on the curbing.
The body was sent to the hayward
and the woman released. A lot OF
money was found in the pockets OF
the deceased.
II seems that the Republican con
vention in Norfolk county did succeed
in making a nomination last night for
county offices, as follows Clerk, Al
yah II. Martin Treasurer, Samuel w.
Lyons; Sheriff, r. F. Bunting, Jr.
Circuit Court Clerk, John Lesner, Jr.
Commissioners of the Revenue, John
ID. Moore and ID. s. Sykes. The party
is considerably broken up just now, but
there is no hope Of its being sufficiently
damaged to admit Of Democratic sue
cess.
The United States steamer Despatch
left the nayy-yard this morning and
sailed for New York. The steamer For
tune left Last night for Washington to
bring more machinery TO thisyard. The
steamer Phlox, tender OF the Naval
Academy, left last night for Annapolis.
General W.. p. Roberts, of North
Carolina, is in the city. Rev. b. Bow
den Shepherd, rector OF the Church OF
the Advent, Philadelphia, is the guest
Of Captain William Sharp.
Luther Martin, thirteen-year-old
boy Of Portsmouth, badly shot himself
in the right thigh from pistol be was
carrying in his pocket
At Gettys Station, Norfolk county,